Survey of Section 319 Projects

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Introduction

In order to obtain a representative view of non-point source pollution prevention projects
funded by the section 319 program, we selected a random sample of projects from across the country.
This sample of projects includes the ______ that was funded by the section 319 program between ______ and ______.
When answering the questions in this questionnaire, please answer only with regard to this project during this time period.

Here is a link to this project's Grants Reporting and Tracking System sheet:

We ask that you complete this survey within 10 business days of receiving it. In testing this survey, we found it took
about an hour to complete. This survey does not need to be completed in one sitting. Your responses can be saved and
accessed at a later date. To learn more about completing the questionnaire, printing your responses, and whom to
contact if you have questions, click here for help.

Was the ______ project part of an EPA success story (that is, a water body(ies) within a HUC 12 watershed that was partially or
fully removed from the state 303(d) list and/or highlighted by EPA on its section 319 "success stories"
Web site at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/success319/)?

At the time of project selection, for which of the following pollutants was the HUC 12 watershed or a portion of it listed as impaired
and what were the target load reductions listed in the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)?

Section II: Project Proposal

12.

Within your jurisdiction, we recognize that there may be other section 319 funded projects that could have been implemented.
At the time ______ was proposed, did your organization consider proposing other projects?

a. Those project(s) would have implemented different BMPs than this project
(View responses)

b. Those project(s) would have implemented a different amount of the same BMPs.
(View responses)

c. Those project(s) would have implemented BMPs on different properties than this project
(View responses)

d. Those project(s) would have focused on different HUC 12 watersheds than this project
(View responses)

Section IIa: Selection of HUC 12 Watershed(s)

14.

Within your jurisdiction, we recognize that there may be multiple HUC 12 watersheds for which a section 319 funded project could be implemented.
At the time ______ was proposed, were there other HUC 12 watersheds that were impaired by non-point source pollution but that did not
receive a section 319 project?

a. Selection criteria used by state in awarding section 319 subgrants
(View responses)

b. Selection criteria used for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs such as Conservation Reserve Program (CRP),
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), or Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
(View responses)

c. Selection criteria used for Department of the Interior (DOI) programs such as those
used by the Office of Surface Mining
(View responses)

d. Selection criteria used for federal programs other than those administered by
EPA, USDA, or DOI
(View responses)

a. Selection criteria used by state in awarding section 319 subgrants
(View responses)

b. Selection criteria used for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs such as Conservation Reserve Program (CRP),
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), or Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
(View responses)

c. Selection criteria used for Department of the Interior (DOI) programs such as those
used by the Office of Surface Mining
(View responses)

d. Selection criteria used for federal programs other than those administered by
EPA, USDA, or DOI
(View responses)

Section IIc: Selection of Properties / Locations for 319 Projects

22.

In addition to the properties or locations on which the BMPs for this project were installed,
were there other properties or locations on which these BMPs could have been installed that would have
addressed the same pollutants from the same water bodies within the HUC 12 watersheds?

a. Selection criteria used by state in awarding section 319 subgrants
(View responses)

b. Selection criteria used for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs such as Conservation Reserve Program (CRP),
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), or Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
(View responses)

c. Selection criteria used for Department of the Interior (DOI) programs such as those
used by the Office of Surface Mining
(View responses)

d. Selection criteria used for federal programs other than those administered by
EPA, USDA, or DOI
(View responses)

As you know, section 319 grants require non-federal matching funds. For the ______ do
the estimated load reductions in GRTS apply to the entire project-both matching funds
(including in kind match) and other federal funds-or do they only apply to the portion of the
project funded by section 319?

Estimated load reductions apply to the entire project

Estimated load reductions apply only to the portion of the project funded by section 319.

How does this entity provide oversight (for example, reporting requirements beyond that
required by EPA, project site visits by state official(s) or ad hoc communication about
project progress and success)?

Section VI: Funding Sources

48.

Based on the Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS) database, we understand that the ______ project received
$______ in incremental funds and $______ in base funds from the section 319 program
between ______ and ______. Is this correct?

In addition to the funding provided by the section 319 grant, how much funding, if any, was allocated
to this project from other federal funding sources between ______ and ______? Enter the total
dollar amounts in the box next to the listed source. Enter a "0" in the box if the project did not receive
any funding from the listed source.

How much direct and/or in-kind contributions, if any, did this project receive from any of
the following non-federal sources between ______ and ______?

If you are unable to separate the funding into direct contributions and/or in-kind, please list the
total dollar amount in the last column. Enter the total dollar amounts in the box next to the listed source.
Enter a "0" in the box if the project did not receive any funding from the listed source